Limburg, the paradise of bicycles.
The province of Limburg has been betting to be a true paradise for cyclists for 20 years. Thereby, it has won the prize for excellence in the 2018 World Landscape Architecture Awards.
The bicycle routes through the province are based on numbered intersections that take you to cities and natural parks. Thanks to these intersections, cyclists can organize and customize their own route itineraries. These routes reach a length of about 2,000 kilometers, but in Flanders everything is designed so that the experience of the cyclist is as comfortable as possible, as it is riddled with special asphalt roads for bicycles and even has numerous bars for cyclists.
We started the route in the Japanese Garden. This garden is the result of the good relationship that exists between Itami, in Japan, and Hasselt since 1985. In exchange, Hasselt gave a carillon to the Japanese city. The inspiration of the whole place can be found in the garden of Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto. Inside, we can visit a Korokanbuilding, which is a house of ceremonies, whose goal is to be the place where travelers can rest and take refuge. For the construction of this house only natural materials such as bamboo, wood, stone or paper are used. One of the most impressive things are its waterfall. Under the water of this waterfall we find a large number of koi fish, which according to the oriental culture, once they rise the waterfall against the current, they will become a dragon.
Continuing our route, we stopped on the shore of Albertkanaal, named after the king Albert I from Belgium. This canal connects Liege, Limburg and Antwerp. It was excavated between 1930 and 1939. It operated for the first time in 1940, but it did not begin to be used regularly until 1946 due to World War II. This great canal, of 129.5 kilometers, has a triple purpose: transport, supplies and defense.
In terms of transport, the most important port facilities on the route to Antwerp are located in this canal. Previously, the distance traveled by the canal was covered in eighteen days, but thanks to this canal today the distance is covered in forty-eight hours.
In terms of supplies, the canal is very important, since the drinking water from the Antwerp region depends on it.
Finally, during the World War II, it served as a line of defense protecting Belgium against attacks from the east.
Along the canal we can admire all the nature that characterizes this country. In addition, we find old buildings of great importance in the cities that crosses. We can enjoy the canal through its bicycle lanes on both sides, which are always very busy.
Later, we pedal until Bokrijk, which is the most touristic parks and museums complex between Hasselt and Genk. It is known for its open-air museum where you can discover how it was living in Flanders in the 16thcentury.
As I said, Limburg won the prize for excellence in terms of landscaping. But, what is the project that has strengthened this link between the province and cycling?
The “Cycling Through Water” project. This project connects the two sides of a lake located in the De Wijersnature reserve, in the center of the province.
This connection, called “Fietsen door het Water” is materialized by 212 meters long, 3 meters wide and 1.6 meters deep concrete path, whose structure is designed specially to minimize any impact on nature. We were close to one of the most important industrial cities in all of Flemish territory: Genk.
Genk is a municipality located in Limburg, but it is not another municipality, it is the industrial center of the province. To give you an idea, 45.000 jobs are offered by a year, being economically the third most important city of Flanders.
Historically, the reason for this industrialization it’s the “black gold”. From 1901 to 1987, Genk developed as one of the great mining cities of the region. Today, all vestiges of what was once a great mining city have been preserved and have become cultural centers, as is the case of the famous C-mine. In this old mine called Winterslagyou can make an expedition to the deepest of this mining exploitation. In addition, other buildings have been reused, such as the metal warehouse, to study, give concerts or organize events for children.
As you can imagine, another of the great tourist attractions of the city is that it is surrounded by nature. I was impressed by being surrounded by nature and being able to visit these natural landscapes full of history and life. Cycling through Limburg by bicycle is an experience that I would recommend to anyone.